Other Names:

Benefits

Antioxidant

Antihelmintic

Antiinflammatory

Antibacterial

Antiarthritis

Antiprotozoal

Antimycotoxins

Anticancer

Antifungal

Antiviral

Antimycotoxins

Antiulcer

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial herb that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It has a long history of use in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for its treatment of inflammatory conditions, in addition to its liver protective effects, aid in digestion, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It's main active ingredients are curcumin and essential oils.

It is also the source of the spice known as turmeric, which is derived from the dried, ground rhizome. Curcumin has a vibrant yellow color which is achieved through the constituent, diferuloylmethane. It is rapidly metabolized, conjugated in the liver, and excreted in the feces when consumed by birds.

Antihelmintic
A study conducted in 2015 on the use of turmeric for deworming purposes against Ascaridia galli, a common intestinal nematode (roundworm) showed that it significantly reduced the length and width of worms present in infested chickens. High concentrations of turmeric (600 mg/kg of body weight) showed healing effects and restored the integrity of intestinal mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens.

Protection from Mycotoxins
Studies conducted on chickens showed that supplementation with turmeric (5 mg/kg diet) provided some degree of protection against the toxic effect of mycotoxins on vital organs, such as the liver and kidneys. When supplemented in the diet of ducklings, it was found to reverse the aflatoxin-induced liver damage.

Ascites syndrome
Studies indicate that the addition of 5.0g/kg of TRP is enough to increase the blood saturation and bicarbonate concentration, and reduce the mortality due to ascites and serum MDA content.